The national budget of Bangladesh for the fiscal year 2025-26, proposed at Tk7.9 trillion, reflects a complex interplay of economic priorities and challenges. It comes at a time when demand from various sectors far exceeds the availability of resources. Energy remains a critical resource for many industrial and economic activities of the economy. A stable and uninterrupted energy supply is inextricably linked to productivity, industrial growth and overall economic resilience.

Despite three tender attempts since January last year, the project authority, RPCL-Norinco Int’l Power Limited (RNPL), has repeatedly failed to appoint a long-term provider

Bangladesh's ambitious 1,320-megawatt Patuakhali ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant stands fully equipped and ready to feed electricity into the national grid. However, months after its two units commenced test runs, this significant investment remains in limbo, plagued by a baffling inability to secure a long-term coal supplier.

The court has directed the power and energy secretary, the chairman and secretary of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), and the secretary of Power Grid Company of Bangladesh to respond to the rule within eight weeks

The High Court has issued a rule questioning why the government's decision to cancel Letters of Intent (LOIs) for 10 renewable energy projects – where significant groundwork, including land acquisition, has already been completed – should not be declared illegal.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is one of the most geopolitically sensitive regions in the world. Nearly one-quarter of the world’s traded oil passes through this strategic passage around 20 to 22 million barrels per day. Even a one-day disruption in this route can have ripple effects across the global energy market, affecting both oil-exporting and oil-importing nations. As an energy-import-dependent developing country, Bangladesh would not be immune to such a shock.

First unit may begin supplying power next year as contractor given two year extension.

The wait for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) to begin supply gets extended even further. Although the transmission lines have been completed, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will not be connected to the national grid just yet. The Russian contractor has been given an extension of two years as the work did not finish according to the plan.

Lantabur Group has invested Tk 7 billion (Tk 700 crore) to establish a yarn factory in Trishal, Mymensingh. The construction was completed six months ago, but the factory remains non-operational due to no gas connection, despite receiving a demand note from the authorities back in November 2022.

BANGLADESH stands at a critical juncture in its development journey, where energy, equity and environment intersect in profound ways. As the country aspires to become a prosperous, climate-resilient nation by 2041, it faces the dual challenge of sustaining economic growth while responding to the escalating climate crisis. Central to this transition is the need to reform the energy sector in a way that is just, inclusive and people-centred. A just energy transition is not merely about replacing fossil fuels with renewables; it is about transforming the energy system to serve all citizens equitably, create decent livelihoods and uphold environmental sustainability.

IMF says import reliance, non-competitive contracts, and other factors drive high power generation costs

Electricity subsidies in Bangladesh are doing the opposite of what they are meant to do. Instead of supporting the poor, a major share of the government's subsidy for electricity is being consumed by wealthier households, according to a latest report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The global transition to clean energy is widely recognised as an unstoppable phenomenon, with the critical question being how soon it will occur. For Bangladesh, navigating the energy transition involves more than simply overcoming technological or financial challenges. It also requires addressing social issues, such as health and economic inequalities, and pursuing justice for future generations. A sustainable energy transition demands a greater collective effort from all corners of society, and stronger collaboration between the media and civil society organisations (CSOs) is a key aspect.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called on Bangladesh to overhaul its electricity subsidy regime, warning that the current structure disproportionately benefits wealthier households at the expense of the poor.

In a draft technical assistance report submitted to the Power Division on June 30, the IMF flagged significant inefficiencies in electricity pricing and urged both short- and long-term reforms to reduce fiscal pressure and improve subsidy targeting.

Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture in its development journey, where energy, equity, and environment intersect in profound ways. As the country aspires to become a prosperous, climate-resilient nation by 2041, it faces the dual challenge of sustaining economic growth while responding to the escalating climate crisis. Central to this transition is the need to reform the energy sector in a way that is just, inclusive, and people-centred. A just energy transition is not merely about replacing fossil fuels with renewables; it is about transforming the energy system to serve all citizens equitably, create decent livelihoods, and uphold environmental sustainability.

The government has announced that it has initiated a review of contracts with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to eliminate “capacity payment” clauses—provisions that obligate the government to pay for power generation capacity even when no electricity is actually supplied to the grid.

The move was disclosed on Friday through the verified Facebook page of the Chief Adviser to the interim government.

On 16 June 2025, Bangladesh unveiled its Renewable Energy Policy 2025, outlining an ambitious goal: to meet 20 per cent of the country’s energy needs from renewable sources by 2030, and 30 per cent by 2040. Seventeen years after the first Renewable Energy Policy in 2008, this new policy is not just an update; it’s a response to years of missed targets and stagnation.

Study also shows investment requirement to rise to $1.4b by 2040

Bangladesh needs to expand its renewable energy capacity by 21 percent annually to meet its latest green energy target by 2030, requiring nearly $1 billion in yearly investment, according to a study by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).

While much of the world is already reaping the rewards of renewable energy, Bangladesh has woefully fallen behind

That few countries are as exposed to the ravages of climate change as Bangladesh is an incontrovertible statement -- it is an immediate existential threat for which we as a nation have to take every possible measure to build a bulwark against.